Deadly Valentine

by Jenna Harte

  Half of Asa's share for each of them, Tess wondered. None to Philip? Tess desperately wanted to ask questions, but it was against her agreement with Daniel. What a predicament to be in. Her responsibility to Jack was to learn more about Asa and others who'd want him dead. But doing so would hurt her relationship with Daniel and his parents. It was exactly what Daniel had predicted. Even if she wanted to break her agreement, now was not the time to ask questions. She could find other ways to get answers.

  "Tess, can I talk to you in the other room for a minute?" Daniel asked.

  Tess felt like a problem child being sent to the principal's office, but agreed.

  "What are you doing in there?" he asked once they were closed in Tom's library.

  "What?"

  "You shouldn't be questioning my parents to find new clues to protect your boyfriend."

  Tess jerked back. "What!"

  "Tonight we're family, Tess. You agreed."

  "I know that. You think I was interrogating your mother? Really?"

  He stared at her for a long moment. "I don't know. Maybe."

  "I was trying to protect her from Philip and Shelby. You know as well as I do they only see dollar signs when they look at Asa…or did."

  "I know. I know. I'm sorry. I just…"

  “It's alright." She held a hand up to stop his apology. She hadn't outwardly broken her vow to Daniel, but she'd been thinking it. In her mind she wasn't completely innocent of his charge. "I'll try to steer clear of anything related to Asa."

  He turned away, running his fingers through his short blond hair. "I promised myself I wasn't going to ask this, but what is the deal with you and Jack?" He turned back to her to see her answer.

  "Daniel-"

  "I know it's not by business. I know you say you're not interested in having a relationship, and yet, there is something there."

  "I don't know what to say." She'd taken the next step by initiating a kiss with Jack. It appeared that he was interested in pursuing a relationship with her. And it was clear that she had no will-power around him. But she still couldn't believe he was romantically interested in her. Or maybe she was too afraid to risk what giving into him might do to her heart. So her resistance, ineffective as it was, was still there.

  "Do you love him?"

  She couldn't find words that wouldn't somehow make it worse for Daniel. "I haven't changed my mind. I'm not interested in being with anyone, but Jack … when I'm near him…"

  "You can't help yourself?"

  "Something like that."

  "Even though he hurt you?"

  "It's not what you're thinking," she clarified and hoped that she could avoid giving the details.

  He reached out and touched the bruise on her cheek. "I'm safe, Tess."

  She nodded. It was true. He could hurt her, but he couldn't break her and Tess was certain that Jack could. Her emotions with Daniel were nearly always calm, even. But Jack was like a roller coaster ride, thrilling and terrifying at the same time. She wanted safe and calm, didn't she? Isn't that why she's given up on concepts like true love. She was still pondering it when Daniel's lips touched hers.

  His kiss was tentative at first, as if he expected her to push away. But because she wondered if maybe he wouldn't be the better choice, she allowed it. He stepped to her, his hands on her waist pulled her closer. It was nice, but not mind numbing. When his lips parted, her heart lurched to her throat and panic forced her step back. An overwhelming sense of guilt flooded her senses. And then she knew. While her mind had fought, her heart had already settled on Jack.

  "I'm sorry," she said.

  He starred at her. She watched the pain and frustration on his face turn to reluctant acceptance. "Me too."

  ~~~~

  Despite Daniel's attempt to win her heart and the awkwardness thereafter, the dinner was pleasant. It was clear that Asa's death had been a reminder to Helen of how fragile life could be. She'd gone to extra lengths to make a special dinner to appreciate those she loved. Tess felt honored and blessed to be included.

  Once home, Tess fed Buster and considered making hot chocolate to warm the chill that had settled in her bones on her trip home. It was a perfect night for a hot drink, hot fire and hot book. She opened her refrigerator to get milk when her phone beeped indicating she had a text message.

  Hey beautiful. Free to talk?

  She put the milk in a pot and set it on the flame of the stove. Then she called Jack.

  “Hey you,” he said when he picked up the phone.

  “Hey you back.”

  “How was the family?”

  Tess frowned. He knew she planned to see Daniel, but how did he know she was going to see his family too? “They're dealing as best they can. How'd you know I was going to see them?”

  There was a pause. “I asked Regina. She said you had dinner every Monday with the Showalters.”

  “I see.”

  “Don't get mad, Tess. You know from last night that I have a very fragile ego.”

  “Yes, I remember.”

  “Did Deputy Dan steal you away?”

  This was the conversation she didn't want to have. Daniel tried, but he didn't succeed. Did Jack need to know that? What good what it do? What would it look like if she didn't tell him? Fortunately, the way he worded the question allowed her to answer truthfully without revealing anything.

  “He's a police detective not a deputy and the answer is no.”

  “Did he try?”

  Tess sighed. She stirred the warming milk and turned down the burner to keep it from scalding.

  “No. No, don't tell me. I have to learn to not indulge my insecurities,” he said. “Maybe you can just tell me where I stand.”

  “I don't know where you stand. Are you at home?” she said hoping a little humor and redirection would change the subject.

  He laughed. “Actually I'm lying down. In bed. Want to know what I'm wearing?”

  “Let's leave it up to my imagination.”

  “How good is your imagination?”

  It's pretty good, Tess thought as she imagined him shirtless, a sheet covering a masculine body. Well, maybe no sheet.

  “Before we have phone sex though,” he said causing Tess' cheeks to warm even more. “I want to know if you can make a trip up here tomorrow to meet with me and the team.”

  “What for?” She added coco and sugar to the milk and stirred.

  “There is some concern about how my involvement in Asa's murder might affect the company.”

  She poured the coco into a mug and carried to the living room where she relaxed on her chaise. “Do you just need advice?”

  “And to field questions or concerns. I think there is a fear of what will happen if I end up in jail.”

  “I can't promise them you won't go to jail if that's what you want.”

  There was silence on his end.

  “Innocent people are charged and convicted all the time,” she added.

  “Did Daniel say something to you tonight? You're not buying into the idea that I tried to kill you are you?

  “No,” she said with a sigh. “I'm saying that I have no control on what information the police gather or how they interpret it or what they do with it.”

  “I thought we agreed we were going to find new information that would point them in another direction.”

  “Yes, but right now there is no other information.” She paused to gather her thoughts and take a sip of her coco. “I'm not saying you'll be arrested. I'm just saying that depending on how the investigation goes, things could get worse.”

  “Can you come tomorrow?” she heard the strain in his voice. So much for phone sex, she thought.

  “What time?”

  “Four o'clock.”

  She knew her schedule wasn't so busy that she couldn't move an appointment if she needed. “I'll be there.”

  He reminded her of the directions to his office building and how to get to the conference room.

  “Is there anything el
se?” she asked. She could sense hesitation from him. “Is something wrong?”

  “No. Nothing is wrong. I was thinking that after the meeting we could have dinner together.”

  Jack didn't seem like the type of guy that would have nerves around asking someone for a date. She couldn't help but think there was something else, something he wasn't telling her.

  “It needs to be an early dinner. I don't want to be out too late,” she said thinking of the two hour drive one-way to Jack's office, and two hours home.

  “Great. I'll see you tomorrow at four.”

  “I'll be there.” Tess was going to ask him again if anything else was on his mind, but he hung up before she could get the words out.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Tess arrived at Jack's office shortly before 4 pm. Her confidence was strong until she crossed over the Potomac River into Washington, D.C. Then like a flood, insecurity and anxiety drowned her faith. She had left the city three years earlier, disgraced and humiliated. She thought the remnants of self-doubt were gone now that she'd built a new life. But the gleaming towers of marble history served as a reminder of how and why she had to leave, and brought back all the feelings as clear and sharp as if it had happened the day before.

  For a moment she thought about cancelling the meeting. She could come up with some excuse that prevented her from coming. But Jack might see through that. And she didn't want to be the type of person that let the past dictate her present.

  She pulled into the parking garage under his building, letting the attendant know about her visit. She parked her car near the elevator. Grabbing her purse and her brief case, she exited the car and took the long elevator ride up to the 20th floor. She rolled her shoulders and took deep breaths to bring down her anxiety. Jack had complete faith in her. She had faith in herself. And when it was done, she'd let him buy her dinner and tell him what her and Regina's research uncovered about Delia Jackson. It wasn't much. In fact, it bordered on totally insignificant.

  The doors opened. Several people waited for her to exit so they could take the long ride down. She headed up a hall towards the area Jack had indicated. She realized she'd never been to Jack's office before. They had been friends, but always outside of their work environments.

  "Hey you!" Jack sat on the edge of a desk as she approached, but stood to greet her. "I've been waiting for you."

  His smile was stunning and for a minute she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead he put an arm around her shoulder and guided her through a set of double doors. "Hold my calls please, Mrs. Standish. And no intrusions." He said to the very competent looking secretary who had to be old enough to be his grandmother.

  "Yes sir."

  The door shut and she found herself pulled flush against Jack's hard body. "Now that we're alone…" He kissed her, firmly and thoroughly.

  She shook the fog out of her head when he pulled away. "You should warn me when you plan to do that."

  "Why? I like the dazed look."

  "I need my wits when I'm working. This is a real working meeting isn't it and not some ploy to get me in your office alone."

  "Can it be both?" he said with a waggle of his brows. "Everyone is down in the conference room waiting, but I wanted to see you first. How are you?"

  She wondered if he could see the unease that being in D.C. brought back to her. She hoped not. "I'm good. Ready to go."

  "Excellent."

  "Maybe when we're done there, I can let you know what I've uncovered so far about your case."

  "How about we do that at dinner?"

  "Alright."

  He gave her another shorter yet equally potent kiss and then led her out of his office and down a different hall.

  He stopped outside a door marked Conference Room A. "Are you sure you're ready?"

  There was something about the look in his face that told her maybe she wasn't ready. She swallowed the new bout of anxiety and nodded.

  Jack opened the door and went in first. Tess followed him to the head of the table. Once there, she looked over the half a dozen men and women who sat waiting. And then the floor dropped out from under her.

  How was it that in less than a week she'd come face to face with two men she'd never planned to see again. Especially the one who'd humiliated her and destroyed her career.

  "Hello Tess," the other man said. He smiled, but was hesitant. Was it possible he was an uncomfortable as she was? Not likely. She couldn't imagine Brad Chancellor ever felt anything but arrogant.

  She whipped her head around to look at Jack, who avoided her gaze. "This is Tess Madison my attorney from Jefferson Tavern. She's here to let you know about the case regarding Asa Worthington's murder and to answer any questions you have. You'll have until tomorrow to process what she says and how it can impact the company. We'll meet then to go over any strategies you think we need to implement." Without looking at her, he turned and left the room.

  "Coward," Tess muttered.

  The door opened again and Tess thought maybe he realized his error and was back to face her. Instead Mrs. Standish came in. "Mr. Valentine asked me to give you this. It’s a skinny fat-free mocha from the local coffee house."

  "Thank you," Tess said taking the drink. But a mocha from the local java joint wasn't going to get Jack off the hook so easily. In fact, she thought she'd hold on to the drink and pour it over his head when she saw him.

  Setting the drink down, she took a deep breath. She looked up at Brad who three years ago cheated on her weeks before their wedding and then, with his family's help ruined her career prospects in the Capitol city. She thought about dumping the drink on him.

  "Ms. Madison," another woman at the table started. "We want you to know that we believe in Mr. Valentine one-hundred percent. But we also know that this kind of publicity can hurt a business."

  Tess tore her gaze away from Brad to look at the woman. "I'm here to answer your questions although I can't predict how Ja- Mr. Valentine's case will play out. At this point, the police have only circumstantial evidence."

  "So there is evidence against him?" another man asked looking alarmed.

  "There's nothing specific to suggest that Mr. Valentine killed Mr. Worthington. Everyone at the house is a suspect at this point."

  Tess continued her presentation, her confidence growing as she went on. Occasionally, she managed a glance at Brad, mostly because she was surprised he was keeping his mouth shut. He was the kind of man who liked to challenge people, particularly other lawyers. He also liked to gloat. But he didn't do either during her presentation. Tess couldn't decide if he changed or if he was biding his time before going in for the kill. Or maybe Jack told him to play nice.

  He looked different from the last time she'd seen him. Less like floor polish. He didn't wear his hair slicked back or look like a Gordon Gekko wannabe. Not that he didn't look professional. He was still sporting a tailored Italian suit and she was sure his bronze curls were styled at a $150-a-cut hair salon.

  She reminded herself that he hadn't always been the critical, arrogant Brad that had ruined her life. At one time they'd been best friends. They had laughed a lot and had a great relationship, that is until she realized that their marriage would be a sham and he turned on her for cancelling it. His parents joined him in his quest to ruin her. His mother told her that infidelity was a part of married life. Tess wondered what his mother would have said if she'd told her it wasn't a woman she caught Brad with. As angry and hurt as Tess was, she never told his secret to anyone but Jack. Perhaps that's why Brad had gone on the offensive. Maybe it was his way to discredit her if she told. Was he worried that she still might expose him?

  When she finished her presentation and answered questions, she gathered her papers and mentally prepared to confront Jack. She headed towards Jack's office, hoping that Mrs. Standish was off copying something so she could barge in on him. No such luck. In fact, Mrs. Standish was now watching as Tess zeroed in on her target. Her eyes went from surprised to determined, but
Tess wasn't going to let a gatekeeper stop her from getting to Jack.

  "He's with someone-"

  Tess pretended not to hear as she blew past the desk.

  "Hey, you can't go in there," Mrs. Standish said jumping up from her ergonomic chair to block Tess.

  "He's expecting me." Tess hoped that momentum would give her the upper hand if Mrs. Standish got in the way.

  "You still need to be announced-"

  Tess burst through the door and into a solid wall of man.

  "Oomph." Jack stumbled back as he threw a small round object over her head. "Oh hey, Tess."

  Tess took in the scene. Jack's so-called meeting was with a gawky kid to play office basketball? For some reason that infuriated her even more.

  "Oh yeah! You missed," the gawky kid said. Tess guessed he was just barely out of adolescence. He was tall, but his muscles hadn't yet caught up with his height making him look a bit like a rubber band man.

  "No fair," Jack said as he cast a glance to Tess. "Interference."

  "Too bad," the kid said as he took a little orange ball and threw it into a hoop across the office.

  "I'm sorry Mr. Valentine. I tried-" Mrs. Standish said with a hand pressed to her chest as if she were out of breath.

  "It's okay. I was expecting Ms. Madison."

  It was all Tess could do to keep from giving her an 'I told you so' smirk. But she had to remember her goal; Jack betrayed her and she wanted to know why. "We need to talk."

  "Sure. Let me just finish-"

  "Now!"

  One dark brow lifted. "Yes ma'am." He looped an arm that she couldn't dislodge around her shoulder. "Hey Derek, I need to call it quits."

  "It's your money," Derek said with a final dunk of the ball. He turned and grinned. "That's at least fifty bucks."

  Jack laughed. "Put it on my tab."

  "The way this is going, I'll have my tuition paid in a few months."

  "Smart aleck," Jack said. "Tess, this is Derek Martin. He's working in a special intern program here. Derek this is Ms. Tess Madison my lawyer."